SECOND Vice President of Zanzibar Hemed Suleiman Abdullah has said that the government will continue to award contracts to high-performing contractors who will be given priority in various projects.

He made the statement yesterday during the launch of refurbishment of educational infrastructure which includes renovation of dilapidated schools, at a ceremony in Cheju, South Unguja Region.

He encouraged local contractors to remain committed to the country's development for the benefit of both current and future generations.

Abdullah said that the government's goal is to ensure that pupils receive quality education free of charge and attend full school calendar.

He further stated that the government was enhancing educational infrastructure by constructing new multi-storey schools and renovating old, dilapidated ones.

Ali Masoud, Deputy Regional Administrative Secretary for Unguja South, said that education infrastructure development aims to improve quality of education by increasing the number of classrooms and providing pupils with a better learning environment.

He noted that the government plans to build 2,037 new classrooms, bringing the total to 4,310 by the end of the current government term in Zanzibar.

Masoud added that the education infrastructure project will cost 384.8bn/- and will help alleviate pupil overcrowding in classrooms. 

Minister for Education and Vocational Training Lela Muhammed Mussa said that the government provides free education and has invested 800bn/- in the sector over the past three years.

She mentioned that the construction of schools is expected to be completed by December this year and urged the contractors to meet the set deadlines.

Unguja South Regional Commissioner Ayoub Muhammed Mahmoud said that the region expects the construction of three new multi-storey schools and pupils’ dormitories to improve learning.